Egypt’s Sisi arrives in Ethiopia to participate in African Union Summit

[Deeq A.]

File Photo: Egypt’s President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa on Saturday to participate in the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, which is taking place from 22 to 29 January.

Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement that El-Sisi is set to meet with Angola’s new President João Lourenço to discuss boosting bilateral ties as well as the latest developments in Africa and the region.

El-Sisi will also chair today a meeting by the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU body in charge of maintaining continental peace and security, which Egypt is heading throughout January.

The statement said that the meeting would involve discussions of the “comprehensive approach on combating the threat of terrorism in Africa,” as terrorism represents a threat that requires strengthened joint African efforts to combat.

El-Sisi will also participate in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Summit in the AU.

NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme adopted by the AU since 2001 with the aim of addressing the challenges of poverty, development and Africa’s marginalisation internationally.

The 30th Ordinary Session is being held under the theme “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”

On the sidelines of the summit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a series of talks with African counterparts in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday and Friday, including the foreign ministers of Ghana, Mali, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Malawi.

Al Ahram